Possible new breast cancer use for AZ's Faslodex after phase 3 success

AstraZeneca has announced results from a phase 3 trial of its breast cancer drug candidate Faslodex (fulvestrant). The drug was found to hold back tumour growth for longer than its other cancer drug Arimidex (anastrazole) in post-menopausal women who have not had prior hormonal treatment for hormone-receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer.

The FALCON trial showed Faslodex demonstrated superiority compared with Arimidex and met its primary endpoint of extended progression-free survival.Although it is one of AstraZeneca’s older drugs and was approved as long ago as 2002, the company has a US patent lasting until 2021.

Consequently the company is trying to make the most of this protected period and is trying to find new uses for it. The drug generated sales of $704 million in 2015.

Sean Bohen, executive vice president, global medicines development and chief medical officer at AstraZeneca, said: “The FALCON results bring us closer to offering more and earlier treatment options to postmenopausal women with HR+ locally-advanced or metastatic breast cancer; the potential to delay disease progression is important for these patients as there is currently no cure.

“Faslodex has over 10 years of clinical evidence and we are committed to exploring its potential along with the rest of our outstanding oncology portfolio.”

A full evaluation of data is ongoing and results are expected at a medical meeting this year.

Faslodex 500mg is approved for the treatment of postmenopausal women with oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive locally-advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose disease has progressed following anti-oestrogen therapy.